The grave of Thomas Kenny VC in Wheatley Hill Cemetery
THE crumbling graves of First World War Victoria Cross heroes will be restored a century after their sacrifice, the Government pledged yesterday.
Ministers unveiled a £100,000 fund to help ensure the resting places are a “truly fitting tribute” to those who received the highest military award for valour.
Those 209 graves include several in the North-East and North Yorkshire.
Three of the region’s VC winners served in the Durham Light Infantry – Private Thomas Kenny, Private Thomas Young and Private Michael Heaviside – and they are all buried in County Durham.
A further two – Sergeant William McNally, buried in Sunderland, and Private Tom Dresser, born in Pickering, North Yorkshire – were members of The Prince of Wales Own Yorkshire Regiment.
Private Frederick Dobson, of the Coldstream Guards, is also buried in County Durham, while the grave of Lieutenant Richard Sandford can be found in Redcar and Cleveland.
The £100,000 funding, to be matched by supporters of a national newspaper campaign, aims to restore all of the Victoria Cross graves in need of repair.
Some are said to require only minor work, perhaps involving cleaning headstones that have become illegible.
Others, meanwhile, have are in a severe state of disrepair and require extensive restoration. Stones have crumbled away and some are in danger of total collapse.
They have fallen into ruin because the heroes died after returning home, rather than in conflict – which means the graves are not maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
As a result, said Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles, many people are unaware that a Victoria Cross recipient is buried in their community.
Mr Pickles said: “An entire generation of men fought for Britain’s freedom in the First World War and all fought valiantly.
“But, for hundreds of those men, their bravery was of such an exceptional nature they were bestowed with the highest military award, the Victoria Cross.
“They should be honoured still. That is why I am privileged to offer £100,000 towards this project, to ensure that their final resting places are venerated memorials where communities can pay their respects and learn about their local heroes.”
Mr Pickles has already announced plans to lay commemorative paving stones in the place of birth of all First World War Victoria Cross recipients across the country.
The first memorials will be place in August this year – the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1914-18 conflict.
The North-East’s Victoria Cross Heroes
Private Frederick Dobson
Pte Frederick Dobson
Regiment: Coldstream Guards
Born: Ovingham, Northumberland
VC won: September 28, 1914
Grave: Ryton & Crawcrook Cemetery
At the First Battle of the Aisne on September 28, 1914, he twice volunteered to go out under heavy fire to bring in two wounded men, crossing open ground in full view of the enemy.
Private Thomas Young
Private Thomas Young
Regiment: Durham Light Infantry
Born: Boldon, County Durham
VC won: March 25-31, 1918
Grave: St Patrick’s Cemetery, High Spen
The stretcher bearer helped to evacuate the wounded from Bucquoy, France. He saved nine men by dressing their wounds under fire.
Private Michael Heaviside
Private Michael Heaviside
Regiment: Durham Light Infantry
Born: Durham City
VC won: May 6, 1917
Grave: St Thomas’ Churchyard, Craghead
He crawled into No Man’s Land near Fontaine-les-Croisilles, France, to help a wounded soldier and returned after dark to take the soldier to safety.
Sergeant William McNally
Sergeant William McNally
Regiment: Alexandra, Princess of Wales’ Own Yorkshire Regiment
Born: Murton, County Durham
VC won: October 27-29, 1918
Grave: Tyne & Wear Crematorium, Sunderland
He led operations on October 27, 1918, across the Piave, in Italy, rushing a machine-gun post single-handedly and capturing the gun. Later, at Vazzola, he crept behind enemy lines and captured another machine gun.
Private Thomas Kenny
Private Thomas Kenny
Regiment: Durham Light Infantry
Born: South Wingate, Co Durham
VC won: November 4, 1915
Grave: Wheatley Hill Cemetery
While on patrol in No Man’s Land south of Ypres, he carried his wounded lieutenant on his back for an hour while under continuous fire. He then went for help and guided rescuers to the unconscious officer.
Private Tom Dresser
Private Tom Dresser
Regiment: Alexandra, Princess of Wales’ Own Yorkshire Regiment
Born: Pickering, North Yorkshire
VC won: May 12, 1917
Grave: Thorntree Cemetery, Middlesbrough
On May 12, 1917, he delivered a vital message to his battalion in trenches through the Battle of Arras, despite being wounded twice on the way.
Lieutenant Richard Sandford
Lieutenant Richard Sandford
Regiment: HM Submarine C3
Born: Exmouth/Exeter, Devon
VC won: April 22-23, 1918
Grave: Eston Cemetery
The submarine commander manoeuvred his damaged vessel under the piers of Zeebrugge harbour, ignited a long fuse and abandoned her. The submarine blew up, damaging the harbour.
